Old Kuopio Museum
Old Kuopio Museum consists of a block of eleven old wooden houses. The oldest buildings on the block are from the late 1700s and the youngest from the late 1800s. Their interiors represent living conditions and living styles of different families from the 1800s to the 1930s. In addition, there is a pharmacy house, an exhibition hall and a room dedicated to the renowned local author Minna Canth.
Most of the museum buildings are not wheelchair accessible because of staircases, narrow doorways and high thresholds. However, the building consisting of the exhibition hall and conference rooms (building 1) has a wheelchair entrance and a wheelchair accessible restroom. The restroom also has a changing table for our younger visitors.
History
Kuopio was almost completely a wooden house city until the mid-1900s. The city never had to face widespread fires that destroyed many similar cities in Finland and even bomb strikes during war times didn’t demolish much of Kuopio.
The block’s known history begins already in the 1650s even if the oldest of the eleven houses in the museum is from the late 1700s and the youngest from the late 1800s. The museum is located in the neighbourhood of oldest urban settlement in Kuopio. One of its typical characters is that both richer and poorer people lived on the same block and this has also given a natural onset for converting it into a versatile museum location.
The beginning stages of the founding of Old Kuopio Museum started in the 1960s when there was much public discussion on protecting the built environment since much of the old wood-house Kuopio was disappearing. In 1972, the city made its final decision to found the museum and it was opened in 1982. The pharmacy building was added to the museum complex in the 1990s.
Temporary Exhibition
STORIES OF HOUSES – IN SEARCH OF THE WOODEN CITY 25.4.2025–26.4.2026
Old Kuopio Museum celebrates the 250th anniversary with an exhibition that invites visitors to take a peek into the Kuopio’s idyllic wooden houses! The exhibition weaves together photographs and memories, creating a vivid experience that tells the story of the city’s architectural history and the evolution of its townscape. Stories from members of the generation that grew up in Kuopio between the 1940s and 1960s share what it was like to live in a city of wooden houses. The exhibition paints a picture of a bustling city, its streets filled with people going about their daily chores.
Up until the mid-20th century, the city of Kuopio consisted predominantly of wooden buildings. However, the post-war reconstruction period and urbanisation following the end of Second World War significantly altered the townscape. Many of the wooden houses were demolished to make way for new construction. Stories of houses shines a light on both the demolished and the existing wooden houses of Kuopio.
These buildings hold memories of what life was like in a city made of wood. The daily hustle and bustle of many Kuopio citizens centred around the chores involved in living in a wooden house. In their spare time, people went to the cinema or took a stroll in Väinölänniemi park. Many dreamt of one day living in a modern apartment building. For children, the winding alleys between the houses offered countless activities and opportunities for play after school.
The extensive collection of photographs presented at the exhibition reveal the different layers of the city. These photos showcase Kuopio’s 250-year-old architectural history. They illustrate the city’s evolution from a city consisting of low-rise wooden houses to a modern urban landscape. Alongside the photographs, the exhibition includes snippets of stories connected to the wooden buildings. Memories of “wooden Kuopio” intertwine with the present-day city, and the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the significance of our built heritage and the role of wooden houses in today’s cityscape.
Contact
Address: Kirkkokatu 22, 70100 Kuopio, Finland
Old Kuopio museum on the map
Tel. museum: +358 44 718 2627
Opening hours
Mon closed
Tue – Sun open 10 AM – 5 PM
Exceptions:
May
Wed 28th open 10 AM – 4 PM
Thu 29th closed
June
Thu 19th open 10 AM – 4 PM
Fri 20th – Sun 22nd closed
Admission
8,00 / 5,00 €, children under 18 years free
Guidance
Guided tours can also be reserved for groups by appointment. Contact us at korttelimuseo(at)kuopio.fi and ask for available time slots!
Guided tours by appointment cost 80 € + entry fees.